Display and dispensing device



Jan. 22, 1957 A. A. RAEBURN DISPLAY AND DISFENSING DEVICE Filed June 26, 1955 E A W M R. LA E m M M M y 1 md m H/IIMIHMIIIIII/lll-da-p /l Ml u 0 n 0 l L M Z El H AM LA Y B f 2,7 78,492 v RatentedcJa'nt- 2255.195???v 2,778,492 DISPLAY AND DISPENSINGDEVICE Abner A. Raeburn, New York, N. Y. Applicatonlune 26, 1953, SerialNo. 364,448? 2 Claims. (Cl. V2064-79)- This invention relates to a device for conveniently storing and dispensing small articles such as service ribbon bars sold through retail stores. It is directed to a device which holds the ribbons in a simple manner.

An object of this invention is to provide such a structure which can be made at nominal cost both for material and labor but which will provide a secure means for storing the article dispensed.

It is a further object of this invention to p rovidesuch a device, which in addition, makes an attractive display and is conveniently small.

Other and further objects will become apparent from a consideration of the below descriptionand the appendedl drawings. ln the latter, one preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and: l

Fig. l is a front elevation of the unit asl made before the insertion of the ribbon bars or other objects;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the device lledV with ribbon bars and in a secure, closed position;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on lines 3-3 in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3 except showing the unit in open position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a drawer containing a group of the display cards led; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing, the structure l of a type of ribbon bar as would be held in the display card of this invention.

Turning to Fig. l, we see the basic structure of the invention. The display card 1 is made of one ofthe many forms of yielding and resilient but light weight cardboards available or other suitable material. It has in it three pairs of unit-retaining slots 2, 3'and 4. Each f of the slots has enlarged slot-access openings 5, 6 and 7 at the upper end thereof. The card has a fold or crease 9 therein spaced from the slot-access openings 5, 6 and 7. These openings 5, 6 and 7 are preferably in horizontal alignment with each other and accordingly equi-distant from the fold 9. Thus a line drawn through the centers of the openings S, 6 and 7 would parallel fold 9. Above fold 9 is a locking flap 8, preferably being merely an extension of the same cardboard as is the entire display card, that is, being made as a structure integral with the rest of the display card. This ap 8 has a locking edge 15 parallel to fold 9, The width .of ap 8 is such that the distance between fold 9 and locking edge 15 is substantially equal to the distance from fold 9 to the center of openings 5, 6 and 7.

The above-stated parallel relationships and measurements, though preferred, are not imperative to the practice of the invention. Rather, it is merely necessaryv to have the dimensions such that the locking edge 15 ofthe locking ap 8 may fit under the ribbon bars or other mounted objects in locking fashion, that is, so that it will urge the object into the unit-retaining slots, as hereinafter described.

The dimensions of the ribbon holding slots 2, 3 and 4 and1 the-openingsks; 6 and7shouldbe such asfto correspondwith:thetypeloffdeviceimountedandIdisplayed. In' Fig. lislshown'lausection ofta ribbon-hater placque` of attypeqwhich` could; be held in--this.^displayi card. I'Ilhis- 5 -barfI itself'usually has pins 11.1 securedithereto.- Apinch`- claspelzii.. eLa headedretainingvassembly; is ailirredfto the outer-end of each" ofl thepinsfsltl. Most ribbon bars have'twovspaeedipins tohold themtinfplaceton the gar# menti l`hesltlaccesslopenings 5,- 6-and 7fshouldbei-of slightly larger diameter. thanthe. largest diameter offtlie pinch clasp 12'on'theribbon bars; andthe retainingfslots 2, 3 and 4; slightlyy largerthanfthe'pinsrllbutt-smaller than the largest!diameteroft-thepinchSclasp 112. Ifthe structure displayed is one like a ribbony banhaving 15 two pins 1l, then the distance between each pair of retaining slots 2, 3 and 4 should be the same as the distance between the pins 11.

It will be seen that these display cards can be easily made from single sheets of cardboard, properly scored. tPreferably, at the time of printing the cards'the unit- `retaining slots 2, 3 and 4 and the slot-access openings 5, 6 and 7 can be die-cut,while the fold 9 creating the locking llap 8 can be made by die-scoring.

The ribbon bars or devices displayed are mounted in the card 1 by inserting the pinch clasps 12 through the slot-access openings 5, 6 or 7, preferably from the front, and then allowing the ribbon bar structures to drop to the bottom of the slots 2, 3 and 4. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the openings 5, 6 and 7 of the display cards in the drawings are of suchlength as to hold four ribbon bars lt) in each pair of openings 5, 6 or 7.v The dimensions, of course, can be varied to suit the user.

Once there are four ribbon bars in each pair' of slots, the locking ap 8 is bent downwardly and placed behind the back of the ribbon bar face 10. This is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus it will be seen that ap 8, due to its resilience, is locked behind the ribbon bars, or whatever other structures have been mounted, such that the bars are secured in place and urged away from the slot- 40 access openings 5, 6 and 7. The uppermost bar, of

course, serves to hold the ap 8 in its position. Consequently, it will be impossible either to remove the ribbon bars or to have them accidently fall out of the slots prior to vunfolding locking flap 8. v Fig. 4 illustrates in section the display card 1 with the locking ap 8 open. In this position the ribbon bars may be either inserted or removed. Removal, of course, is accomplished by simply sliding the bars upwardly until the pinch clasps 12 are beneath the openings 5, 6 or 7, and then lifting the entirefunit outwardly.

When this` invention is used for displaying devices such as ribbon bars, it is usually found by the-retailer that a large stock of varying types must be kept on hand. This invention, as shown in Fig. 5, facilitates the solution of 55 the storage problem. There it can bev seen that numerous display cards shown by 14 can easily be kept within reach inthe le drawer 13 in the same manner as ordinary le cards.

There are numerous modifications which can be readily made to this invention, such as in the size of the' card and the number and type of slots used. Applicant does not desire tobe limited in the uses which may be made of the specific invention except insofar as is shown by the appended claims.

l claim:

l. ln combination a sheet of material formed with a pair of oblong openings extending perpendicular to an edge of'said sheet and parallel to each other, Asaid openingsin their `ends adjacent such sheet edgebeing enlarged and of reduced area adjacent their opposite ends, an article carried by said sheet and received in said openings, said article comprising a part having an outer display face, a pair of pins each having one of their ends connected to the rear faceof said part to extend substantially perpendicular with respect thereto and at points spaced from each other, retaining means mounted adjacent `the opposite ends of said pins and extendible one through the enlarged ends of each of said openings to shift said part adjacent the outer sheet face to span the distance between said openings, said article being thereupon movable in a direction parallel to said sheet towards those ends of the openings which are of reduced area and a strip connected to such sheet to extend away from said edge of the same, said strip overlying the outer sheet face and enlarged opening and having an edge underlying said article part, said edge being common to both said pins and engageable therewith to prevent said article from moving in ythe direction of the enlarged ends of the openings.

2. ln the combination as specified in claim 1, the length of the reduced ends of the openings being such that a pair of the same may each receive a number of pins and a further article incorporating the specified construction disposed adjacent said first-named article and having its pins also extending through the reduced areas of said openings.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES lATENTS 1,474,113 Harris NOV. 13, 1923 1,959,665 Gallinger May 22, 1934 2,252,235 Snelling Aug. 12, 1941 2,472,532 Hellman June 7, 1949 2,487,123 Fluss et al. Nov. 8, 1949 2,604,204 Rockey et al. July 22, 1952 

